What A Difference A D(el)ay Makes

I puzzled my way through the following game, even though I didn't need to. It is Bill Wall playing the Jerome Gambit. Of course White wins.

Wall,B - PLKT
FICS, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

Heading for the Blackburne or Whistler Defenses.

7.Qxe5 Bd6 

8.Qd5+

I was puzzled by this move, as experience has shown that after this inaccurate move (better 7...d6 or 7...Qe7) the Black Rook can be taken: perrypawnpusher - tuffnut, blitz, FICS, 2007 (1-0, 33); perrypawnpusher - bakker, blitz, FICS, 2008 (1-0, 20); perrypawnpusher - Kapppy, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 34); perrypawnpusher - Sirenus, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 13); perrypawnpusher - frencheng, 7 5 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 17); and perrypawnpusher - elyza, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 24);

Furthermore, Bill is always the first to examine the latest version of The Database and mine it for new ideas to inject into his games.

Plus, he has read the almost 1,750 posts here on this blog.

That last fact gave me a thought: with all that information, could a couple of lines of play have been crossed in his mental database? It turns out, that's quite possible.

Looking back at "By the Numbers" (see also "Pulling A Rabbit Out of A Hat" and "I think I have a win, but it will take time...") there is a game similar to today's, coming out of the Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit opening (add 0-0 for White and ...h6 for Black), where the notes indicate that the defender should have played ...Bf8!? instead of that game's ...Bd6, as then the Rook would be poisoned.

Or, maybe this is all just a lot of psychological noodling on my part.

8...Kf8 9.d4 Nf6 

10.Qg5 Be7 11.Qe3 d5 12.e5 Ne4 

White has his standard two pawns for a piece, while both Black's Knight and King could prove misplaced.

13.0-0 Bg5 14.f4 Bh6 15.h3 Qh4 16.Nc3 Nxc3 17.bxc3 Bf5

Black continues his aggressive play. Perhaps he is familiar with Blackburne's destruction of the Jerome Gambit?

18.c4 c6 19.Ba3+ Ke8

It may not be immediately obvious, but getting the King off of the f-file by moving him into the center is not best.

White can now generate enough excitement to even the game up - or to go for more, if his opponent cooperates.

20.Qb3

Quite possibly this is just the move Black had been hoping for. While he lines up his two Bishops and Queen to find a Blackburne-like mating attack, his opponent's strong piece abandons her monarch.

20...Bxf4

Too hopeful. His Queen had to return home, while giving up material - 20...Qd8 21.Qxb7 Rc8 22.Qxa7 dxc4 - with about an equal game.

21.Qxb7

Bill points out that White has to plunge ahead, as 21.Rxf4? Qxf4 22.Qxb7 Qxd4+ 23.Kh2 Qxe5+ is a terrible alternative.

Now Black has the opportunity to "sacrifice" both of his Rooks, as in the Blackburne game - but without getting the requisite mating attack.

21...Be3+

Best, but not saving.

22.Kh2

The only move. Certainly not 22.Kh1 Bxh3 23.Qxa8+?? Bc8 checkmate.

22...Bf4+ 

It was time for Black to go for the swindle with 22...Bxh3 23.Qxa8+?? Bc8 checkmate!  

Instead, 22...Bxh3 23.gxh3? would have led to a draw by perpetual check 23...Bf4+ 24.Rxf4 Qxf4+ 25.Kg2 Qe4+, etc.

Of course, after 22...Bxh3 23.Qf7+! Kd8 24.gxh3 all is good with White's world.

23.Rxf4 Qxf4+ 24.Kh1 Qh4 25.Qxa8+ Qd8 26.Qxc6+ Kf7 27.cxd5 Black resigned

In the end, even the "Jerome pawns" joined in the attack.

It's A Small World After All (Part 2)

Of course [continuing from "It's A Small World After All (Part 1)"] there would not be much of a story if "fluffybunnyfeet" did not turn out to be National Master James Marfia after all.

He did.

We swapped emails. Jim remembered his opponent and the game. Of the Jerome, he noted "It was, indeed, not much of a gambit."

All of which is a light-hearted introduction to a game that is of significant interest for the serious Jerome Gambiteer.


Marfia,J - Stelter,J
Offhand Game, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6

7.Qxe5 d6

Blackburne's "generous" offer of a Rook.

Those slightly familiar with Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1885, will remember the game ending in a crush of White.

Those a bit more familiar will recall that later analysis suggested that White was winning.

Regular Readers will know, however, that the move actually leads to a complicated draw. (See "Flaws" Part 1 and Part 2.) 

8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.d4

The Database has only 5 other games with this move, including perrypawnpusher - bakker, blitz, FICS, 2007 (1-0, 33).

9...Qxe4+

Black's best was 9...Nf6, as detailed in "Traps and Zaps", leading to a complicated mess that favors the second player.

The text is tempting, but losing.

10.Be3 Qxc2

Houdini recommends 10...Qxg2 11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.Rf1 Bb6 13.Nc3 Bf5 14.0-0-0 Qh3 15.Qxh3 Bxh3 16.Rfe1 Bf5 17.f3 Ba5 18.Bd2 Nf6 when White is better.
11.dxc5 dxc5 12.Qc3

Withdrawing the White Queen from mischief, guarding the White King, and offering a safety-making exchange.

12...Qxc3+ 13.Nxc3 Bf5 14.Bxc5 Re8+ 15.Be3 Re5 16.0-0 Bd3 17.Rfd1 Bc2 18.Rd7+ Re7 19.Rxe7+ Nxe7 Black resigned

A Rook is, after all, a Rook.

Complications

My opponent was a bit overwhelemed by the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) in this game, but like with yesterday's post (see "Crushed") there were some very interesting options available to the losing player.


perrypawnpusher - Sirenus
blitz, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6

7.Qxe5 Bd6

Save the Bishop, attack the Queen, sacrifice the Rook...

It's an interesting plan, but unfortunately it doesn't work here. Either the Blackburne (7...d6) or Whistler (7...Qe7) defenses effectively meet Black's goals, though.

8.Qxh8 Qh4

Energetic! I've had three games continue differently:

8...Qg5 9.Qxh7+ Kf6 10.Qxg8 Qxg2 11.Rf1 Qxe4+ 12.Kd1 b6 13.Qh8+ Kf5 14.Qh3+ Kf6 15.Nc3 Qe5 16.Qf3+ Kg7 17.Qxa8 Qh5+ 18.f3 Ba6 19.d3 Qxh2 20.Qe4 Qg2 21.Qe2 Qg3 22.Ne4 Qh4 23.Nxd6 cxd6 24.Re1 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - elyza, blitz, FICS, 2010;


8...Ke6 9.Qxh7 Ne7 10.d4 c5 11.d5+ Ke5 12.Nc3 Kd4 13.Be3+ Kc4+- 14.0-0-0 Be5 15.Bd2 Qb6 16.Qh3 d6 17.Qd3+ Kb4 18.a3+ Ka5 19.Qc4 Bxc3 20.Bxc3+ Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - bakker, blitz, FICS, 2008; and


8...Be7 9.Qxh7+ Kf8 10.Qxg6 d6 11.d4 Bd7 12.Bh6+ Nxh6 13.Qxh6+ Kf7 14.Qh7+ Kf8 15.Qh8+ Kf7 16.Qxd8 Rxd8 17.Nc3 c6 18.0-0 Rg8 19.f4 Bh3 20.Rf2 Bd7 21.e5 dxe5 22.dxe5 Ke8 23.f5 Bc5 24.f6 Bxf2+ 25.Kxf2 Be6 26.Ne4 Rf8 27.Nd6+ Kd7 28.Rd1 Kc7 29.h3 Bd5 30.g4 Rh8 31.Kg3 b6 32.h4 Be6 33.g5 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - tuffnut, blitz, FICS, 2007.

9.Nc3

Protecting the e-pawn, but 9.d3 was better for that. Then, after 9...Qh5 White can withdraw his Queen with 10.Qc3.

After 9.d3, then 9...Nf6 doesn't quite work, as White can quickly move his own Knight into play: 10.Nd2 b6 (planning 11...Bb7) 11.Nf3 attacking Black's Queen first.

Black can still complicate things after 9.d3 Nf6 10.Nd2, though, with 10...Ng4, as White's best is to allow the check/capture at f2, playing 11.Nf3 Qxf2+ 12.Kd1.

analysis diagram






White's King is uncomfortable, but his Queen will make things even more difficult for Black's King.

So, even with my "better" move, Black could have stirred things up.

Complications!

9...Be5

A simple oversight.

Again, White is better after 9...Nf6, but not without some thought and work. Best would be 10.d4, but Black's plan to win the cornered White Queen would take some creativity to defeat.

analysis diagram




For example, 10...b6 11.e5 Be7 12.Bg5!? jailbreak's the Queen after 12...Qxg5 13.exf6 Bxf6 14.Qxh7+ and White's initiative, safer King and material advantage should win.

Or, Black could try 10...Be7 first (after 9...Nf6 10.d4), with more complications after 11.e5 Ng4 12.g3 Qh3 13.Nd5 b6 14.Nxc7 Bb7 15.Nxa8 Bxh1 16.Nc7 Bf8 (the White Queen is still trapped) 17.Bd2 Qxh2 18.0-0-0 and at least White's King has escaped the heat...

Complications!

The text move, however, solves all of White's problems.

10.Qxe5 d6 11.Qg3 Qxg3 12.hxg3

12...Be6 13.Rxh7+ Black resigned

Is a Draw Good Enough Against the Jerome Gambit?

If you are playing the Black pieces and are facing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), is a draw a favorable outcome for you? In my experience, my opponents would respond with a resounding "No!" – despite the fact that I have scored 85%+ with the opening.

In the following game my opponent quickly reached a worse position. My sloppiness allowed a draw by repetition – which would have been a fair result for both of us.

Instead, my opponent sought more – and found less.

perrypawnpusher - elyza
blitz FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6

This can lead to either the Blackburne (7.Qxe5 d6) or Whistler (7.Qxe5 Qe7) Defenses.

7.Qxe5 Bd6

This is kind of a "semi-Blackburne" defense, the kind of thing that I fussed about in "Half a defense is worse than none at all...".

The updated New Year's Database gives 25 previous games, with White scoring 88%.

The successful 6...g6 defense relies on a blistering attack on White's King (and possibly trapping White's Queen) to offset the loss of the Rook. That doesn't happen after 7...Bd6.

8.Qxh8 Qg5

After the game, Rybka recommended 8...Qh4 9.d3 Qh5 10.g4 Qh3 11.g5 b6 12.Be3 Ba6 13.Nd2 Rf8 14.Qc3 Ne7 with advantage to White as his Queen has escaped, his King will soon castle, and he has a material edge.

 

analysis diagram







Two previously unsuccessful tries for Black were: 8...Be7 9.Qxh7+ Kf8 10.Qxg6 d6 11.d4 Bd7 12.Bh6+ Nxh6 13.Qxh6+ Kf7 14.Qh7+ Kf8 15.Qh8+ Kf7 16.Qxd8 Rxd8 17.Nc3 c6 18.0-0 Rg8 19.f4 Bh3 20.Rf2 Bd7 21.e5 dxe5 22.dxe5 Ke8 23.f5 Bc5 24.f6 Bxf2+ 25.Kxf2 Be6 26.Ne4 Rf8 27.Nd6+ Kd7 28.Rd1 Kc7 29.h3 Bd5 30.g4 Rh8 31.Kg3 b6 32.h4 Be6 33.g5 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - tuffnut, blitz FICS, 2007; and

8...Ke6 9.Qxh7 Ne7 10.d4 c5 11.d5+ Ke5 12.Nc3 Kd4 13.Be3+ Kc4 14.0-0-0 Be5 15.Bd2 Qb6 16.Qh3 d6 17.Qd3+ Kb4 18.a3+ Ka5 19.Qc4 Bxc3 20.Bxc3+ Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - bakker, blitz FICS, 2008.

9.Qxh7+ Kf6 10.Qxg8

Grabbing the extra piece, but simpler was 10.0-0 Nh6 11.d4 b6 12.Bxg5+ Black resigned, MariaTavares - PeterPygmalion, FICS, 2005

10...Qxg2 11.Rf1

This was a knee-jerk reaction, almost as fast as my capture of the Knight – and it could have had unhappy consequences.

The fact is – in a reversal of roles from the Blackburne or Whistler defenses – White is in position to give up his Rook and focus on bringing danger to Black's King with: 11.Nc3!? Qxh1+ 12.Ke2.

analysis diagram







Black's best move now is 12...c6, keeping White's Knight off of d5, although like all the other choices it will lead to checkmate (starting with 13.d4).

11...Qxe4+ 12.Kd1

12...b6

It was wisest to split the point: 12...Qf3+ 13.Ke1 Qe4+ 14.Kd1 etc., repeating the position.

13.Qh8+ Kf5 14.Qh3+ Kf6

15.Nc3 Qe5 16.Qf3+ Kg7 17.Qxa8

17...Qh5+ 18.f3 Ba6 19.d3 Qxh2 20.Qe4 Qg2 21.Qe2

White's King is safe, the extra material will tell.

22...Qg3 22.Ne4 Qh4 23.Nxd6 cxd6 24.Re1 Black resigned

A Question of Theory and Practice

"Theory" and "practice" in the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can be light-heartedly summed up as: the leading theory is not to practice the opening.

Yet, we persist.

Today's game highlights an area of theoretical controversy – that is to say there would probably be a controversy, if enough people played the Jerome Gambit to be aware of it.

In typical Jerome fashion, White loses the theoretical battle, wins the game handsomely, nonetheless – while the rest of the world refines the 18th (or 28th) move of Sicilian Najdorf theory...

mrjoker - annicks
2 12 blitz, ICC 2000
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6

Munoz and Munoz wrote in the August 1885 Brooklyn Chess Chronicle

In the American edition of Cook's Synopsis K-K3 [...Ke6] is given as the best defence, but Mr. Blackburne's ingenious counter sacrifice in the present skirmish would seem to show that the text is at least as good.

7.Qxe5 d6

This move is usually given a "!" because the offer of Black's Rook led to a smashing finish in Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1885; but, in truth, it deserves a "?!". The best move, instead, is 7...Qe7!, Whistler's Defense, when the Rook is then truly poisoned.

After White captures the Rook in the current game, his biggest "risk" is in allowing Black chances to draw.

8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.0-0 Again, the Brooklyn Chess Chronicle

He should have attempted to free his piece by P to Q4 [d4] before castling.

My database has three examples of the recommendation, although none were available at the time this game was played: 9.d4 Nf6 ( 9...Bb4+ 10.c3 Qxe4+ 11.Kf1 Qd3+ 12.Ke1 Bg4 13.Qxh7+ Kf8 14.f3 Re8+ 15.Kf2 Qe2+ 16.Kg3 Bf5 17.Bh6+ Nxh6 18.Qxh6+ Ke7 19.cxb4 Qxb2 20.Qg5+ Kd7 21.Nd2 Qxd4 22.Rhe1 Rh8 23.Qe7+ Kc6 24.Rec1+ Kb5 25.a4+ Kxb4 26.Ne4 Rh3+ 27.gxh3 Qh8 28.Nf2 g5 29.Qe1+ Kb3 30.Qe3+ Kb4 31.Qd2+ Kb3 32.Qd5+ Kb4 33.Qb5 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - bakker, FICS, 2007; 9...Qxe4+ 10.Be3 Bxd4 11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.0-0 b6 13.Bh6+ Ke8 14.Qxg8+ Kd7 15.Qf7+ Kc6 16.Qf3 Qxf3 17.gxf3 Bh3 18.Rd1 Re8 19.c3 Bc5 20.b4 Bxf2+ 21.Kxf2 Re7 22.Nd2 a5 23.a3 Rf7 24.Ne4 Bg4 25.Ng5 Rf6 26.Rd4 Kd7 27.Rxg4 d5 28.Rd1 c5 29.Rxd5+ Kc6 30.Rd8 axb4 31.axb4 cxb4 32.Rc4+ Kb5 33.Rxb4+ Kc5 34.Ne4+ Kc6 35.Nxf6 Kc7 36.Rd7+ Kc6 37.Be3 b5 38.Rd5 g5 39.Rbxb5 Black resigned, mediax - yorkypuddn ChessWorld.com, 2008) 10.Nd2 Bxd4 11.Rf1 Bh3 12.Qxa8 Bxg2 13.Qxb7 Bxf1 14.Qb3+ Ke7 15.Qg3 Qxg3 16.hxg3 Bg2 17.f3 Bh3 Black resigned, dj222 - invincible1,GameKnot.com, 2003

9...Nf6 10.d4

I have not seen a lot of analysis of this move. The earliest entry in my database is from J. du Mont, in his 1942 200 Miniature Games of Chess, where he only notes that 10.d4 Bxd4 11.c3 would lead back to the Blackburne game. Certainly there must be earlier references.

Hindemburg Melao, Jr., in a 2003 internet article about the Amateur - Blackburne game, at superajedrez.com, mentioned that Idel Becker, in his Manual de xadrez (1974), attributed the move 10.d4 to Euwe, although he did not give the source. In any event, the author was dismissive

but in this case Black could simply follow with 10...Bh3 11.gxh3 (11.Qxa8 Qg4 –+ ) 11...Rxh8 12.dxc5 Qxh3 13.f3 g5 14.Rf2 g4 15.Bf4 (15.fxg4 Qxg4+ –+ )15...gxf3 16.Bg3 h5 17.Nd2 h4 18.Nxf3 Qg4 –+ ...

...The best option seems to be 10.Qd8 after 10...Bb6 11.e5 dxe5 12.Qd3 is not clearly how the Black people can be successful. For example 12...Bf5 13.Qb3+ (13.Qg3 Qxg3 14.hxg3 Bxc2µ) 13...Kg7 14.d4 Rd8 15.Nd2 (15.dxe5? Qxf2+! 16.Rxf2 Rd1#) 15...Qxd4 16.c3 (16.Nf3? Qxf2+!) 16...Qc5 with compensation for the material

10...Bxd4 11.Qd8

The game Glameyer - Piske, www.freechess.de, 2006, continued unsuccessfully 11.Be3 Ng4 12.Qxh7+ Qxh7 13.h3 Bxb2 White resigned.

In our game Black has walked by his chance for advantage, allowing White's Queen to both attack c7 and pin the Black Knight. Best for the second player at this point is 11...Bb6, although White's Queen can still be released with 12.e5 dxe5 13.Be3 (or 13.Qd3).

11...Bf5

Quickly losing the thread of the game.

12.Qxc7+ Bd7 13.Qxd6

White has his choice of ways to win now.

13...Bb6 14.e5 Ng4

This only looks dangerous.

15.Qxd7+ Kg8 16.h3 Bxf2+

An attempt to swindle: 17.Rxf2? Qxf2+ 18.Kh1 Qf1 checkmate!

17.Kh1 h5 18.Bf4 Black resigned

Parts is parts

When facing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) my oppponents sometimes try to re-create Blackburne's crushing reaction, the best-known example of the Jerome that they are likely to recall. Sometimes they only remember parts of the line, however.

perrypawnpusher - Kapppy
blitz 2 12, FICS, 2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Bd6

I have faced this line before: perrypawnpusher - tuffnut, blitz 2 12, FICS 2007: 8.Qxh8 Be7 9.Qxh7+ Kf8 10.Qxg6 d6 11.d4 Bd7 12.Bh6+ Nxh6 13.Qxh6+ Kf7 14.Qh7+ Kf8 15.Qh8+ Kf7 16.Qxd8 Rxd8 17.Nc3 c6 18.0-0 Rg8 19.f4 Bh3 20.Rf2 Bd7 21.e5 dxe5 22.dxe5 Ke8 23.f5 Bc5 24.f6 Bxf2+ 25.Kxf2 Be6 26.Ne4 Rf8 27.Nd6+ Kd7 28.Rd1 Kc7 29.h3 Bd5 30.g4 Rh8 31.Kg3 b6 32.h4 Be6 33.g5 Black resigned; as well as perrypawnpusher - bakker, FICS, 2008 (1-0, 20).

Black's best is Whistler's Defense, 7...Qe7.

8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.Qd4 Nf6 The position bears slight resemblance to Blackburne's destruction of the Jerome Gambit – here White's Queen has escaped after capturing the Rook and can help in her King's defense.
10.d3 b6 11.Nd2 Ng4
Black is ganging up on f2, but a better way to do that was 11...Bc5 (although White's advantage is obvious).
12.Nf3 Bc5
Now this falls to 13.Qd5+ – or it would, if I had noticed it. My response was good, just not best.
13.Qxc5 Qxf2+ 14.Qxf2 Nxf2 15.Kxf2 d6
A Rook is a Rook is a Rook.

16.Rf1 Rb8 17.Kg1 Ke7 18.Bg5+ Kd7
19.Nh4 Kc6 20.Rf7 Kb7 21.Rxh7 Ka8


The game was adjourned at Kapppy's request. When it resumed, there were no surprises.
22. Rxc7 b5 23. Be3 Rb7 24. Rxc8+ Rb8 25. Rxb8+ Kxb8 26. Nxg6 Ka8 27. h4 b4 28. h5 b3 29. axb3 d5 30. exd5 Kb7 31. h6 Ka8 32. h7 Kb8 33. h8=Q+ Kb7 34. Rxa7 checkmate